Dear New Yorker,
We wanted to share some encouraging news with you.
This past week, the NYC Council passed a package of bills - Intros. 370-A, 374-A and 377-A - that will greatly improve the way the city reports and responds to pedestrian and bike-related accidents.
One of the things we've learned from our constituents over the years is that knowledge and cooperation are key if we're going to effectively work together to keep our streets safe and prevent future accidents.
In addition to requiring the New York Police Department (NYPD) to publish statistics about car crashes, traffic deaths and pedestrian injuries on its website once a month, Intro. 370-A requires the NYC Department of Transportation to:
to conduct a comprehensive study of all traffic crashes involving a serious injury or fatality every five years; to develop an interagency plan to improve roadway safety; and
to meet with the NYPD and other relevant stakeholders once a month to discuss roadway safety.
Intro. 374-A requires DOT for the first time ever to begin compiling the number of bicycle crashes that are reported to city agencies and to submit a report on these crashes every year to the City Council.
Finally, Intro. 377-A requires DOT to provide a detailed explanation whenever it rejects a community board's or Council Member's request for a traffic control device (such as stop sign or traffic signal). This explanation must include the date and time of all traffic studies conducted and the time period of any crash data used, as well as a summary of the criteria that must be considered to approve a stop sign or traffic signal.
(For addition information about these bills, click here .)
We'd like to thank everyone who worked so hard to help get this important legislation passed. With these new measures, which we expect Mayor Bloomberg to sign into law shortly, we will be better able to find more effective solutions to the traffic-problems facing many of our communities.
We'd also like to thank everyone who's contacted us over the years to report problems, share their concerns, or suggest ways to improve pedestrian safety. These measures are very much a reflection of your concern and action, and we look forward to working with all of our constituents to help make our neighborhoods and streets as safe as possible.
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
James Vacca
Transportation Committee Chair & Lead Sponsor of Intro. 377
NYC Council
Jessica S. Lappin
Council Member & Lead Sponsor of Intro. 370-A
NYC Council
Rosie Mendez
Council Member & Lead Sponsor of Intro. 374
NYC Council